At what point do you replace your motor?

Shikkaka

Shikkaka

Shikkaka

Soldato
Joined
10 Jun 2003
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Nottingham
Afternoon all,

I've had my car for a little over 4 years now and it seems to be throwing up bills more often. This time the clutch is starting to slip, suspension coil has snapped and a knackered brake caliper.

I'm saving for a deposit looking to buy but I'm in no rush to apply for a mortgage yet. I'd rather wait another year or two and be better off financially.

I'm starting to think it is not worth repairing this car any more. It's been a great little car which hasn't cost a great deal to keep going but at what point do you call it quits and buy a newer car?

It's a 2000 Fiesta Zetec-S on 110k miles.

Do I carry on repairing it or buy another car for about £4k? I figured spending £4-5k every 4-5 years on a new car is pretty reasonable especially when I could be spending £500+ a year repairing it....

Opinions please.
 
When I get bored and want a new one.

What you've listed are basically consumable parts wearing out. You wouldn't consider getting rid of a car just because the tyres were worn out would you ?
 
Steameh said:
Afternoon all,

I've had my car for a little over 4 years now and it seems to be throwing up bills more often. This time the clutch is starting to slip, suspension coil has snapped and a knackered brake caliper.

I'm saving for a deposit looking to buy but I'm in no rush to apply for a mortgage yet. I'd rather wait another year or two and be better off financially.

I'm starting to think it is not worth repairing this car any more. It's been a great little car which hasn't cost a great deal to keep going but at what point do you call it quits and buy a newer car?

It's a 2000 Fiesta Zetec-S on 110k miles.

Do I carry on repairing it or buy another car for about £4k? I figured spending £4-5k every 4-5 years on a new car is pretty reasonable especially when I could be spending £500+ a year repairing it....

Opinions please.
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Well If you decided to throw in the towel, then it wouldn't have been a lost cause. My fiesta is nearly the same age but a lot less mileage, yet it seems so tatty now, and is tiresome to drive on a day to day basis.

On that basis I am getting something different in september. Not because it's broken, but purely because its starting to drive me mental driving the thing.

shauncr91 said:
When I get bored and want a new one.

What you've listed are basically consumable parts wearing out. You wouldn't consider getting rid of a car just because the tyres were worn out would you ?
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Tires are slightly less costly than a clutch though :p On a 12 year old fiesta with over 100k miles, I'm not sure replacing a clutch would be of value unless you felt the car had 50k left in it.
 
I'll be putting a new clutch in my car soon, it will cost a lot less than the set of tyres cost me. Even with small shopping car tyres there won't be much in it.
 
Muncher said:
When it dies pretty much. I've been driving 11 years and only ever sold one car!
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Dies as in needs fixing more often or as in engine failure?

I'm pretty sure these Zetec engines don't see much past 110k. Especially with the abuse I've handed it over the years :)
 
I'm in exactly the same boat too. With a 2000 fiesta zetec as well, although slightly less miles at around 75k. Cambelt still hasn't been changed and I think the cat has gone so will probably fail the MOT in 4 months time. The issues I'm having aren't quite as pricey as your's though.

I can afford what I consider a reasonable replacement, but wont have much cash leftover.

It doesn't help that I don't like the car. I got it 4 years ago from elderly relative for a decent price.

The only thing putting me off is that unless I buy a brand new car with warranties and guarantees, which I'll never be able to do, is that I'll still probably have similar running cost, but have a few ££££ dent in my pocket!
 
Steameh said:
Dies as in needs fixing more often or as in engine failure?

I'm pretty sure these Zetec engines don't see much past 110k. Especially with the abuse I've handed it over the years :)
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Why not? I would consider an engine that only lasts 110k to be extremely poor. The Zetec is supposed to be a good engine right, designed by Yamaha?
 
Non of my changes have been particularly planned.

My Corolla failed it's MOT over a weekend and I borrowed my Mum's car (Laguna) to get myself back to uni. Got the Corolla fixed, sold it and kept the Laguna.

Sold the Laguna to pay for the insurance on Dad's 530d while my parents lived in America for two years then had to replace it in a rush when they decided to come home early and got the MX-5.

Crashed my girlfriend's Corsa and replaced it with a Mondeo.

I'm hoping the MX-5 and Mondeo will last at least another four years but who knows!
 
When I can be bothered or feel in the mood to.

Have kept a couple of cars for a long while for various reasons, I liked them or couldn't really afford to change, and have bought a couple of a bit of a whim. Current S2000 was bought because I fancied something fun for my drive to work, it was in budget and local.
 
Steameh said:
This time the clutch is starting to slip, suspension coil has snapped and a knackered brake caliper.
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All of that should be expected of a car that age.

You could buy a 4-5 year old car and still have the same issues.

The 1.6 Zetec lump in your fiesta is a fantastic engine. Keep on top of servicing and it'll last you a good few years yet. The main killer of these is rust, not mechanics.
 
Muncher said:
When it dies pretty much. I've been driving 11 years and only ever sold one car!
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Same here, I've had my GTi6 for 8 years now. Mainly because for the past 5 years I've lived and worked in the city centre so have been doing 1000-3000miles a year (for 6months my car wasn't even parked where I lived, it was parked in work and sometimes used at lunch). So I've never really used it enough to justify changing it.

Now I've moved out of the city and commuting in it, it's starting to feel like I need to change it which I will do at the end of the year for a big comfy estate (dog and kids soon). I'll still keep the GTi6 though as it's probably worth £1.5k-£2k at a push to the right person but I know the car inside and out and will be a decent second car for a while until it dies. It's on 81k for a 12year old car and it sail's through every MOT, get's serviced at Peugeot every year as I'm friendly with the service manager who also does all the work and it gets treated like royalty when there as they've never seen one so clean :D

If I'd won the Euro Millions last Friday I'd still keep it but have pretty much every piece replaced - saying that most of it has been, twice :o

Think I'm attached :(
 
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